Miwa W
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at Cornell University
Expertise
Bioethics, genetics, genomics, gene editing, evolution, population genetics
Bio
I am a geneticist with research roots in ecology and environment science. I love exploring the interconnectedness of the world, both biological and philosophical, and believe approaching questions through different lenses makes for fascinating answers and incredible stories. I grew up in the lower Hudson Valley of New York where I had two irreplaceable high school teachers, inspiring me to be an educator. There, I was lucky to be able to jump start my research journey and compete in science fairs across the country. I went to Haverford College where I rounded out my liberal arts education with time enjoying the outdoors, working at the college arboretum and playing varsity softball. My time culminated in two theses involving research on a developmental gene in the C. elegans model organism and research on Aristotle's ideas of teleology. For graduate school, I went to Cornell where I researched the evolution of fruit fly genes through their interaction with an intracellular bacterium, Wolbachia. There I grew my passion for education and outreach. I recently started my first job as a geneticist at a federal fishery, where I work on monitoring waterbodies for invasive species through genetic tools!Project ideas
The genomics revolution
There has been a recent revolution in personal genomics- for less than a hundred bucks, anyone can get their genome sequenced. What does this mean for an individual and for society? This project will dissect the different implications of widespread sequencing of human genomes. You will learn how DNA is sequenced, how scientists associate genes and traits, and how medical professionals and privacy specialists are considering this data. Communicating these findings to the public in an easily accessible manner will be incredibly valuable as we all try and navigate this newly emerging world. This can be done through a blog, podcast, or series of infographics.
An era of gene editing
The 2020 Nobel prize in chemistry was awarded to two scientists who pioneered the CRISPR gene editing system. CRISPR allows us to make precise edits in a genome, arming researchers with a shiny tool and hopes of making a world with less disease and better crops. With this project, you will choose a question or problem that you think could be addressed using gene editing with CRISPR. After learning how CRISPR works on a technical level, you can see if there are any publications on the use of CRISPR for your question. You can also consider the broader consequences of gene editing for your question and similar situations in your field. You can share your insights through a literature review or an informal writeup.